Trump says media distorted remarks about Los Angeles and San Diego
In short
Donald Trump said on October 8 that media outlets had misrepresented his remarks about the possible destruction of Los Angeles and San Diego during the conflict with Iran. He said he was comparing temporarily higher gasoline prices with the consequences of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on October 8 that media outlets had distorted his comments about the possible destruction of Los Angeles and San Diego during the conflict with Iran. In a post on Truth Social, he accused reporters of presenting his remarks as a call for an enemy to bomb the two cities. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Trump said he had been comparing the temporary cost of higher gasoline prices with the consequences of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. He described paying more for gasoline for a short period as a small price for preventing that outcome, and the bombing of American cities as an example of a much greater cost. He also accused media outlets of knowingly misrepresenting the comparison. [ 2 , 4 ]
Interfax reported that Trump made the original remarks at a Republican rally in Nebraska on Monday evening. Referring to the conflict with Iran, he said an entire city could be wiped out and then said to let Los Angeles and San Diego be wiped out, according to the agency. Interfax reported that the crowd responded with cheers. [ 2 ]
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticised the remarks, Interfax reported. Newsom's press office characterised them as a call for an attack on more than 10 million U.S. residents. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria called the comments reckless and said the city was neither collateral damage nor expendable, according to the agency. [ 2 ]
RIA Novosti reported that White House communications director Steven Cheung had offered an explanation of the earlier remarks. Cheung said Trump meant Los Angeles and San Diego could have been attacked if the United States had not started the conflict with Iran, according to RIA Novosti. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The remarks drew criticism from California Governor Gavin Newsom and the mayors of Los Angeles and San Diego, according to Interfax. Trump's explanation linked the dispute to the price of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Key facts
- Trump accused media outlets of portraying his remarks as a call for an enemy to bomb Los Angeles and San Diego. [ 2 , 4 ]
- He said on Truth Social that he had compared a temporary rise in gasoline prices with the bombing of major American cities. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Interfax reported that the original remarks came at a Republican rally in Nebraska on Monday evening. [ 2 ]
- Interfax reported criticism from Gavin Newsom, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. [ 2 ]
- White House communications director Steven Cheung said Trump meant the cities could have been attacked had the United States not begun the conflict with Iran, RIA Novosti reported. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The supplied documents do not establish that Iran could carry out the city-destroying attack described in the remarks. Vedomosti reported that Trump offered no evidence that Iran possessed weapons of mass destruction or long-range weapons capable of such an attack.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On October 8, RIA Novosti reported Trump's denial that he was calling for attacks on U.S. cities. [ 1 ]
- On October 8, Interfax reported Trump's explanation and criticism of his earlier remarks by California officials. [ 2 ]
- On October 8, TASS reported Trump's accusation that media outlets distorted his remarks about San Diego and Los Angeles. [ 3 ]
- On October 9, Vedomosti reported Trump's explanation that he had compared higher gasoline prices with the consequences of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. [ 4 ]